fh.godemperorofdune-第16章

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y　of　women？〃
　〃I　need　a　trusted　panion　who　can　mand　my　Guard。　You　object？〃
　〃Why　women？〃
　〃There　are　behavioral　differences　between　the　sexes　which　make　women　extremely　valuable　in　this　role。〃
　〃You're　not　answering　my　question。〃
　〃You　think　them　inadequate？〃
　〃Some　of　them　looked　pretty　tough；　but。　。　。〃
　〃Others　were；　ahhh；　soft　with　you？〃
　Idaho　blushed。
　Leto　found　this　a　charming　reaction。　The　Duncans　were　among　the　few　humans　of　these　times　who　could　do　this。　It　was　understandable；　a　product　of　the　Duncans'　early　training；　their　sense　of　personal　honor…very　chivalrous。
　〃I　don't　see　why　you　trust　women　to　protect　you；〃　Idaho　said。　The　blood　slowly　receded　from　his　cheeks。　He　glared　at　Leto。
　〃But　I　have　always　trusted　them　as　I　trust　you…with　my　life。〃
　〃What　do　we　protect　you　from？〃
　〃Moneo　and　my　Fish　Speakers　will　bring　you　up　to　date。〃
　Idaho　shifted　from　one　foot　to　the　other；　his　body　swaying　in　a　heartbeat　rhythm。　He　stared　around　the　small　room；　his　eyes　not　focusing。　With　the　abruptness　of　sudden　decision；　he　returned　his　attention　to　Leto。
　〃What　do　I　call　you？〃
　It　was　the　sign　of　acceptance　for　which　Leto　had　been　waiting。　〃Will　Lord　Leto　do？〃
　〃Yes。。。m'Lord。〃　Idaho　stared　directly　into　Leto's　Fremen　blue　eyes。　〃Is　it　true　what　your　Fish　Speakers　say…you　have。。。memories　of。　。　。〃
　〃We're　all　here；　Duncan。〃　Leto　spoke　it　in　the　voice　of　his　paternal　grandfather；　then：
　〃Even　the　women　are　here；　Duncan。〃　It　was　the　voice　of　Jessica；　Leto's　paternal　grandmother。
　〃You　knew　them　well；〃　Leto　said。　〃And　they　know　you。〃
　Idaho　inhaled　a　slow；　trembling　breath。　〃That　will　take　a　little　getting　used　to。〃
　〃My　own　initial　reaction　exactly；〃　Leto　said。
　An　explosion　of　laughter　shook　Idaho；　and　Leto　thought　it　more　than　the　weak　jest　deserved；　but　he　remained　silent。
　Presently；　Idaho　said：　〃Your　Fish　Speakers　were　supposed　to　put　me　in　a　good　mood；　weren't　they'？〃
　〃Did　they　succeed？〃
　Idaho　studied　Leto's　face；　recognizing　the　distinctive　Atreides　features。
　〃You　Atreides　always　did　know　me　too　well；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃That's　better；〃　Leto　said。　〃You're　beginning　to　accept　that　I'm　not　just　one　Atreides。　I'm　all　of　them。〃
　〃Paul　said　that　once。〃
　〃So　I　did！〃　As　much　as　the　original　personality　could　be　conveyed　by　tone　and　accent；　it　was　Muad'Dib　speaking。
　Idaho　gulped；　looked　away　at　the　room's　door。
　〃You've　taken　something　away　from　us；〃　he　said。　〃I　can　feel　it。　Those　women。。。Moneo。　。　。〃
　Us　against　you；　Leto　thought。　The　Duncans　always　choose　the　human　side。
　Idaho　returned　his　attention　to　Leto's　face。　〃What　have　you　given　us　in　exchange？〃
　〃Throughout　the　Empire；　Leto's　Peace！〃
　〃And　I　can　see　that　everyone's　delightfully　happy！　That's　why　you　need　a　personal　guard。〃
　Leto　smiled。　〃My　peace　is　actually　enforced　tranquility。　Humans　have　a　long　history　of　reacting　against　tranquility。〃
　〃So　you　give　us　the　Fish　Speakers。〃
　〃And　a　hierarchy　you　can　identify　without　any　mistakes。〃
　〃A　female　army；〃　Idaho　muttered。
　〃The　ultimate　male…enticing　force；〃　Leto　said。　〃Sex　always　was　a　way　of　subduing　the　aggressive　male。〃
　〃Is　that　what　they　do？〃
　〃They　prevent　or　ameliorate　excesses　which　could　lead　to　more　painful　violence。〃
　〃And　you　let　them　believe　you're　a　god。　I　don't　think　I　like　this。〃
　〃The　curse　of　holiness　is　as　offensive　to　me　as　it　is　to　you！〃
　Idaho　frowned。　It　was　not　the　response　he　had　expected。
　〃What　kind　of　game　are　you　playing；　Lord　Leto？〃
　〃A　very　old　one　but　with　new　rules。〃
　〃Your　rules！〃
　〃Would　you　rather　I　turned　it　all　back　to　CHOAM　and　Landsraad　and　the　Great　Houses？〃
　〃The　Tleilaxu　say　there　is　no　more　Landsraad。　You　don't　allow　any　real　self…rule。〃
　〃Well　then；　I　could　step　aside　for　the　Bene　Gesserit。　Or　maybe　the　Ixians　or　the　Tleilaxu？　Would　you　like　me　to　find　another　Baron　Harkonnen　to　assume　power　over　the　Empire'。〃　Say　the　word；　Duncan；　and　I'll　abdicate！〃
　Under　this　avalanche　of　meanings；　Idaho　again　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side。
　〃In　the　wrong　hands；〃　Leto　said；　〃monolithic　centralized　power　is　a　dangerous　and　volatile　instrument。〃
　〃And　your　hands　are　the　right　ones？〃
　〃I'm　not　certain　about　my　hands；　but　I　will　tell　you；　Duncan；　I'm　certain　about　the　hands　of　those　who've　gone　before　me。　I　know　them。〃
　Idaho　turned　his　back　on　Leto。
　What　a　fascinating；　ultimately　human　gesture；　Leto　thought。　Rejection　coupled　to　acceptance　of　his　vulnerability。
　Leto　spoke　to　Idaho's　back。
　〃You　object　quite　rightly　that　I　use　people　without　their　full　knowledge　and　consent。〃
　Idaho　turned　his　profile　to　Leto；　then　turned　his　head　to　look　up　at　the　cowled　face；　cocking　his　head　forward　a　bit　to　peer　into　the　all…blue　eyes。
　He　is　studying　me；　Leto　thought；　but　he　has　only　the　face　to　measure　me　by。
　The　Atreides　had　taught　their　people　to　know　the　subtle　signals　of　face　and　body；　and　Idaho　was　good　at　it；　but　the　realization　could　be　seen　ing　over　him：　he　was　beyond　his　depth　here。
　Idaho　cleared　his　throat。　〃What's　the　worst　thing　you　would　ask　of　me？〃
　How　like　a　Duncan！　Leto　thought。　This　one　was　a　classic。　Idaho　would　give　his　loyalty　to　an　Atreides；　to　the　guardian　of　his　oath；　but　he　sent　a　signal　that　he　would　not　go　beyond　the　personal　limits　of　his　own　morality。
　〃You　will　be　asked　to　guard　me　by　whatever　means　necessary；　and　you　will　be　asked　to　guard　my　secret。〃
　〃What　secret？〃
　〃That　I　am　vulnerable。〃
　〃That　you're　not　God？〃
　〃Not　in　that　ultimate　sense。〃
　〃Your　Fish　Speakers　talk　about　rebels。〃
　〃They　exist。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃They　are　young　and　I　have　not　convinced　them　that　my　way　is　better。　It's　very　difficult　convincing　the　young　of　anything。　They're　born　knowing　so　much。〃
　〃I　never　before　heard　an　Atreides　sneer　at　the　young　that　way。〃
　〃Perhaps　it's　because　I'm　so　much　older…old　pounded　by　old。　And　my　task　gets　more　difficult　with　each　passing　generation。〃
　〃What　is　your　task？〃
　〃You　will　e　to　understand　it　as　we　go　along。〃
　〃What　happens　if　I　fail　you？　Do　your　women　eliminate　me？〃
　〃I　try　not　to　burden　the　Fish　Speakers　with　guilt。〃
　〃But　you　would　burden　me？〃
　〃If　you　accept　it。〃
　〃If　I　find　that　you're　worse　than　the　Harkonnens；　I'll　turn　against　you。〃
　How　like　a　Duncan。　They　measure　all　evil　against　the　Harkonnens。　How　little　they　know　of　evil。
　Leto　said：　〃The　Baron　ate　whole　planets；　Duncan。　What　could　be　worse　than　that？〃
　〃Eating　the　Empire。〃
　〃I　am　pregnant　with　my　Empire。　I'll　die　giving　birth　to　it。〃
　〃If　I　could　believe　that　。　。　。〃
　〃Will　you　mand　my　Guard？〃
　〃Why　me'？〃
　〃You're　the　best。〃
　〃Dangerous　work；　I'd　imagine。　Is　that　how　my　predecessors　died；　doing　your　dangerous　work？〃
　〃Some　of　them。〃
　〃I　wish　I　had　the　memories　of　those　others！〃
　〃You　couldn't　have　and　still　be　the　original。〃
　〃I　want　to　learn　about　them；　though。〃
　〃You　will。〃
　〃So　the　Atreides　still　need　a　sharp　knife？〃
　〃We　have　jobs　that　only　a　Duncan　Idaho　can　do。〃
　〃You　say。。。we　。　。　。〃　Idaho　swallowed；　looked　at　the　door；　then　at　Leto's　face。
　Leto　spoke　to　him　as　Muad'Dib　would　have；　but　still　in　the　Leto…voice。
　〃When　we　climbed　to　Sietch　Tabr　for　the　last　time　together；　you　had　my　loyalty　then　and　I　had　yours。　Nothing　of　that　has　really　changed。〃
　〃That　was　your　father。〃
　〃That　was　me！〃　Paul　Muad'Dib's　voice　of　mand　ing　from　Leto's　bulk　always　shocked　the　gholas。
　Idaho　whispered：　〃All　of　you。。。in　that　one。。。body。　。　。〃　He　broke　off。
　Leto　remained　silent。　This　was　the　decision　moment。
　Presently；　Idaho　permitted　himself　that　devil…may…care　grin　for　which　he　had　been　so　well　known。　〃Then　I　will　speak　to　the　first　Leto　and　to　Paul；　the　ones　who　know　me　best。　Use　me　well；　for　I　did　love　you。〃
　Leto　closed　his　eyes。　Such　words　always　distressed　him。　He　knew　it　was　love　to　which　he　was　most　vulnerable。
　Moneo；　who　had　been　listening；　came　to　the　rescue。　He　entered　and　said：　〃Lord；　shall　I　take　Duncan　Idaho　to　the　guards　he　will　mand？〃
　〃Yes。〃　The　one　word　was　all　that　Leto　could　manage。
　Moneo　took　Idaho's　arm　and　led　him　away。
　Good　Moneo；　Leto　thought。　So　good。　He　knows　me　so　well；　but　l　despair　of　his　ever　understanding　me。
　
　I　know　the　evil　of　my　ancestors　because　I　am　those　people。　The　balance　is　delicate　in　the　extreme。　I　know　that　few　of　you　who　read　my　words　have　ever　thought　about　your　ancestors　this　way。　It　has　not　occurred　to　you　that　your　ancestors　were　survivors　and　that　the　survival　itself　sometimes　involved　savage　decisions；　a　kind　of　wanton　brutality　which　civilized　humankind　works　very　hard　to　suppress。　What　price　will　you　pay　for　that　suppression？　Will　you　accept　your　own　extinction？
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　AS　HE　dressed　for　his　first　morning　of　Fish　Speaker　mand；　Idaho　tried　to　shake　off　a　nightmare。　It　had　awakened　him　twice　and　both　times　he　had　gone　out　on　the　balcony　to　stare　up　at　the　stars；　the　dream　still　roaring　in　his　head。
　Women。。。weaponless　women　in　black　armor。。。rushing　at　him　with　the　hoarse；　mindless　shouting　of　a　mob。。。waving　hands　moist　with　red　blood。。。　and　as　they　swarmed　over　him；　their　mouths　opened　to　display　terrible　fangs！
　In　that　moment；　he　awoke。
　Morning　light　did　little　to　dispel　the　effects　of　the　nightmare。
　They　had　provided　him　with　a　room　in　the　north　tower。　The　balcony　looked　out　over　a　vista　of　dunes　to　a　distant　cliff　with　what　appeared　to　be　a　mud…but　village　at　its　base。
　Idaho　buttoned　his　tunic　as　he　stared　at　the　scene。
　Why　does　Leto　choose　only　women　for　his　army？
　Several　ely　Fish　Speakers　had　offered　to　spend　the　night　with　their　new　mander；　but　Idaho　had　rejected　them。
　It　was　not　like　the　Atreides　to　use　sex　as　a　persuader！
　He　looked　down　at　his　clothing：　a　black　uniform　with　golden　piping；　a　red　hawk　at　the　left　breast。　That；　at　least；　was　familiar。　No　insignia　of　rank。
　〃They　know　your　face；〃　Moneo　had　said。
　Strange　little　man；　Moneo。
　This　thought　brought　Idaho　up　short。　Reflection　told　him　that　Moneo　was　not　little。　Very　controlled；　yes；　but　no　shorter　than　I　am。　Moneo　appeared　drawn　into　himself；　though。。llected。
　Idaho　glanced　around　his　room…sybaritic　in　its　attention　to　fort…soft　cushions；　appliances　concealed　behind　panels　of　brown　polished　wood。　The　bath　was　an　ornate　display　of　pastel　blue　tiles　with　a　bination　bath　and　shower　in　which　at　least　six　people　could　bathe　at　the　same　time。　The　whole　place　invited　self…indulgence。　These　were　quarters　where　you　could　let　your　senses　indulge　in　remembered　pleasures。
　〃Clever；〃　Idaho　whispered。
　A　gentle　tapping　on　his　door　was　followed　by　a　female　voice　saying：　〃mander？　Moneo　is　here。〃
　Idaho　glanced　out　at　the　sunburnt　colors　on　the　distant　cliff。
　〃mander？〃　The　voice　was　a　bit　louder。
　〃e　in；〃　Idaho　called。
　Moneo　entered；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　He　wore　tunic　and　trousers　of　chalk…white　which　forced　the　eyes　to　concentrate　on　his　face。　Moneo　glanced　once　around　the　room。
　〃So　this　is　where　they　put　you。　Those　damned　women！　I　suppose　they　thought　they　were　being　kind；　but　they　ought　to　know　better。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　what　I　like？〃　Idaho　demanded。　Even　as　he　asked　it；　he　realized　it　was　a　foolish　question。
　I'm　not　the　first　Duncan　Idaho　that　Moneo　has　seen。
　Moneo　merely　smiled　and　shrugged。
　〃I　did　not　mean　to　offend　you；